Talking to Your Doctor
Ask your doctor to put you in touch with a social worker or therapist who specializes in helping families in situations like yours. Most NICUs have social workers on staff. The social worker may also have information about support groups made up of parents with similar experiences.
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Becoming a parent is overwhelming in the best of circumstance. Very few couples begin a pregnancy expecting to encounter problems, and a preterm birth can be devastating. For many couples, a difficult pregnancy is the greatest challenge of their lives. It is important for you and your partner to understand these emotional responses and to work together to support each other. Professionals who understand the emotional stresses associated with complications of pregnancy can help you cope with your situation by educating, comforting, and caring for you.
After you deliver, the intensity continues. Early babies require specialized care in neonatal intensive care units, or NICUs. Time spent in the NICU can range from days to months. The care provided is complex and sometimes dramatic, and the experience for most couples and their families is exhausting and emotionally draining. Going home without your baby (or babies) is one of the most difficult parts of the adjustment process. Often, your baby's progress in the NICU will be two steps forward, and one step backward, as he or she negotiates the challenges of surviving in the outside world. Again, communicating with your partner and connecting with others who share the experience can be particularly helpful.
Remember, too, that all new mothers are at risk for postpartum depression, thanks to dramatic shifts in hormone levels after delivery. Going home without your baby and the strain of following his or her course in the NICU, increases that risk substantially. If you find you are overwhelmed, tearful, unable to sleep or eat, or otherwise not yourself, seek help. Postpartum depression is a medical emergency.
For information about how difficulties during this pregnancy may affect future pregnancies, go to Preterm Labor: Counseling for Future Pregnancies.
For information about specific causes of preterm delivery, go to:
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